London Modular return to ART for the first time since their debut EP

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Artist: London Modular Alliance
Title: Turn Off The Light
Label: Applied Rhythmic Technology (ART)
Catalog ART19
Release Date: Out Now!
Genre: Electro

The trio that comprises LMA have come along way since they dropped their debut ep on Applied Rhythm Tech only 2 years ago. Solid releases on Brokntoys, and Hypercolour, plus a slew of high end live performances under their belt have helped bring them to the foreground of the current electro explosion.

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The A-side is comprised of 3 tracks, kicking off with the title track, ‘Turn Off The Lights’ So I’ve got to admit I was a little confused upon hearing this. As the track begins I get the feeling that some delightful electro gem is under construction. Little floating strings, synths, and hints of percussive form…it promises to be something special. However, it would appear that at the last moment LMA changed their mind and decided to make a UK Garage track instead. Sure, why not… I’m still a little confused, but man this is a tune! Kick and rolling, a wobbly bassline getting about while some sharp, sparse percussion cracks away.

‘Buchla Flux’ could very well be the tunes of the EP, but alas the LMA lads decided that just shy of a couple of minutes was long enough, I disagree. It’s dark, open, spacey, and just feels like it’s getting started before it’s gone.

‘Nebulose Thoughts’ rounds off the A side. Fairly straightforward little rolling electro work out. A cool DJ friendly intro and into some fun, bouncy acidic electro which doesn’t really go anywhere too inspiring, but works nicely enough. Reminding me of some of the electro Heckmann used to make under his Electro Nation guise.

On the home straight now and it’s some really old school feeling bad boy electro percussive combo that instantly gets your head nodding as we begin the flip with, ‘Round The Bridge’. The punchy baseline solidifies that flavor while funky flashes of spacey synths and cheeky acid scatter apart and reform again. Great tune!

‘Cherenkov Light’ is a brilliant ambient piece that lulls you into submission with its deep, circular synth, breathing in and out with growing intensity, as brittle percussion shifts and crackles like dry Autumn leaves in the wind.

Great to see LMA spreading their wings and trying different stuff, exciting times ahead.


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About the Author

Growing up in Melbourne Matt’s introduction to electronic music happened during the legendary rave scene erupting in the warehouses of Melbourne’s industrial West. Matt grew up on all the classics, Carl Cox’s 'F.A.C.T', Laurent Garnier’s ‘Laboratoire’ mix, and of course all the Reactivates and early K7 mixes. During the winter of 1995, Derrick May & Stacey Pullen introduced Matt to Detroit techno, and that was that. Soon after Jeff Mills released ‘Live at The Liquid Room’ and Matt already all consuming interest in deejaying and techno exploded. Fast forward 20 plus years and Matt is still obsessed with electronic music, records and deejaying. Now a resident for the flagship Australian techno label, Nightime Drama, Matt has played alongside some of the biggest names in techno including Jeff Mills, Luke Slater, Derrick May, DJ Bone, Dasha Rush, Kangding Ray, and many more.